Book News Vol. 10 No. 24

BOOK NEWS

Which events are you planning to see at this year's Festival? Tickets for the general public are on sale at 8:00am on September 8th online at vancouvertix.com, over the phone (call 604.629.8849) and at our box office. Many events sell out quickly, so don't delay!

Meanwhile, tickets for our special event with John Irving are already on sale! John Irving will be talking about his new book, The Avenue of Mysteries, on Tuesday December 1st at the Vancouver Playhouse. You can find more details here, http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/john-irving.

Help jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi be heard.

In 2013, Raif Badawi was arrested for writing blog posts that critiqued the government in Saudi Arabia. These blogs are filled with messages of acceptance and tolerance, and yet, the punishment he's receiving is nearly intolerable: 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. Ensaf Haidar, Raif's wife, is fighting to free him and we want to bring Ensaf to Vancouver this October to read from her husband's blogs and raise awareness of the injustices he's enduring. Until September 15th we're raising money to cover the cost of Ensaf's journey to Vancouver and we need your help. Will you stand by Raif and Ensaf by donating today? Click here, https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/811vgd/ab/e54kg4.

Volunteer registration is now open!
Prospective volunteers should check out the volunteer pages, https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/get-involved/volunteers, of our Festival website and register through My Volunteer Page here,
https://app.volunteer2.com/Public/SignUp?organizationGUID=5c4eca8b-95ae-4e41-99a5-6a0e5843faa8&signupFormId=1.

Featured Event

Meet the Authors!
Join us at Chapters Granville Street for chance to meet 2015 Vancouver Writers Fest authors Jordan Abel, Darren Groth, Irina Kovalyova, Susin Neilsen, Carellin Brooks and Sheryda Warrener.

Chapters Granville Street
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Tuesday September 15

Join us for refreshments and get your books signed.

Poetry and Short Story Contest
The 17th Vancouver Writers Fest Poetry and Short Story Contest is now open! Entries will be accepted until October 25th, so get writing or start polishing up your best work. The contest is open to all writers, so this could be the perfect opportunity for you to get published for the first time, kick start your writing career or add to your already impressive resume. First place winners will receive $500 and be published in subTERRAIN Magazine. Details and to enter: http://writersfest.bc.ca/writingcontest

Know a young writer? Tell them about our writing contest for BC grades 8-12 students, http://writersfest.bc.ca/youthwritingcontest.

AWARDS & LISTS

The longlist for the 2015 CBC Creative Nonfiction Prize has been released. Thirty writers made the cut, including BC's own Richard Wagamese and Kevin Chong.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2015-creative-nonfiction-prize.html

YOUNG READERS

It's officially September. What are the most anticipated young adult books of the month? Check them out here:
http://popcrush.com/young-adult-books-september-2015/

NEWS & FEATURES

Ashley Little will be Vancouver Public Library's next writer in residence.
http://www.straight.com/blogra/522746/novelist-ashley-little-becomes-vancouver-public-librarys-newest-writer-residence

Writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks has died. "The whole world was his purview and he listened closely to all of it. And because such a great doctor happened to also be a beautiful writer, his books have opened up our world to us in startling, amazing and wonderful ways."
http://www.quillandquire.com/book-news/2015/08/31/author-neurologist-oliver-sacks-dies/

Speaking of all things neurological, does silent reading actually exist? This writer doesn't think so.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/122665/silent-reading-doesnt-exist

A recent rumour about a third Harper Lee novel has been proved false. "A rare books expert who reviewed recently discovered manuscript pages by Harper Lee has concluded that they are from an early version of To Kill a Mockingbird, and not a possible third novel by the author."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/01/business/media/expert-says-manuscript-is-not-lees-third-novel.html

When it comes to writing novels, is there such a thing as being "too productive?" Stephen King, one of today's most prolific writers, tackles that question here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/opinion/stephen-king-can-a-novelist-be-too-productive.html

Twenty years ago, a Colombian garbage man began rescuing reading material for children in impoverished neighbourhoods of Bogota. Now known as Colombia's "Lord of the Books," he not only built a makeshift community library in his house, but also travelled far and wide promoting his message: "Books are our salvation and that is what Colombia needs."
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/08/26/colombian-garbage-collector-rescues-books-for-children

"Why do so many of this year's book covers have the same design style?" That's the question being asked in this article, which looks at beach reads in particular.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2015/08/25/flat_book_cover_design_why_do_all_the_summer_novels_have_the_same_look.html

In a bid to promote literacy, city councils in Scotland are considering making library cards automatic for children. One "authority said that one of its priorities was to provide the ‘best start in life' for all children."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-34048868

A German literary critic has decided to review this season's IKEA catalogue. "Well, it is basically a scandal that the world's most widely distributed book, with a print run of an astounding 220 million copies, has never been properly reviewed!" Check out his "tongue-in-cheek review" here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2015/08/wheres-the-living-room-damn-it-literary-critic-reviews-ikea-catalogue.html

BOOKS & WRITERS

Michel Chikwanine's graphic novel, Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls are Used in War, is written from a very personal place: at five, he was kidnapped, drugged, tortured and forced to fight for a bad of rebel militants in his native Congo. He's coming to this year's Writers Fest, and he's interviewed here:
http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/2015/08/31/qa-michel-chikwanine-on-his-graphic-novel-memoir-child-soldier/

Social media erupted last week when Jonathan Franzen wrote that he once considered adopting "an Iraqi war orphan" in order to alleviate his "sense of alienation from the younger generation." Controversies are not new to Franzen, and his new novel, Purity, "won't end the debate."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-people-v-jonathan-franzen/article26141645/

Landfalls, by Naomi J. Williams, is a novel of "mostly true stories" about an 18th-century French expedition across two oceans. "Both disjunctive and rigorous, Landfalls confirms that history and literature share a fundamental exploratory impulse."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/30/books/review/landfalls-by-naomi-j-williams.html

Elena Ferrante's The Story of the Lost Child is the fourth and final novel in her "sensational, highly addictive" Neapolitan series. Described as "mysterious" and "anonymous," Ferrante (who will be the subject of an event at this year's festival) is interviewed here: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/08/elena-ferrante-interview-the-story-of-the-lost-child. This year's VWF includes an event about the elusive Elena Ferrante and features Ferrante's publisher as well as John Freeman, Lauren Groff and Elizabeth Hay. More details here, http://writersfest.bc.ca/2015/events/73-elena-ferrante-literary-mystery.

Back on this side of the ocean, there are many new books to look forward to this fall, including this list of works from Latin America! From Clarice Liespector's collected stories to Valeria Luiselli's The Story of My Teeth, here are some of the best.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/01/fall-2015-best-latin-american-novels

The Girl in the Spider's Web, David Lagercrantz's "secret sequel" to Stieg Larsson's Millennium series, has just been released. "I worked harder than ever to live up to him," states Lagercrantz in this interview with The Globe and Mail. "I tried to be worthy of him. He was the brilliant genius who invented this world. I tried to step into it."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/david-lagercrantz-on-his-secret-sequel-to-larssons-millennium-series/article26113392/

Shilpi Somaya Gowda's new novel, The Golden Son, won't be on bookshelves until late October. As one of the "fall's most anticipated novels," here's an exciting chance to check out an excerpt, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-golden-son-read-an-exclusive-preview-of-shilpi-somaya-gowdas-new-novel/article26142955/. We are excited to say that Gowda will be appearing in two events at the Festival: Writing Country (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2015/events/65-writing-country) and The Sunday Brunch (http://writersfest.bc.ca/2015/events/85-sunday-brunch).

COMMUNITY EVENTS

THE WRITERS' STUDIO READING SERIES
Cathie Borrie, local authors, and TWS students read poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.. Thursday, September 3 at 8:00pm. Admission by donation. Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street, Vancouver. More information at sfu.ca.

WORLD POETRY VANCOUVER
Presents Embracing Interconnectivity: Nature & the World. Hosts Wanda Kehewin and Elaine Woo. Features local writers Anita Aguirre-Nieveras, Christine Leclerc, Grace Woo, Isaac Yuen, Jonina Kirton, Joanne Arnott, Nasreen Pejvak, Synne Kune Loh and Rita Wong. September 5, 2015, 1-3 pm. Britannia Branch, VPL, 1661 Napier St., Vancouver, V5L 4X4.

LGBTQ VOICES
Join local poets Julian Paquette, Anna Warje and guest readers for an evening of poetry and more. Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30pm. Salt Spring Island Public Library, Salt Spring Island. More information at saltspring.bc.libraries.coop.

SOUTHBANK READING SERIES
Presents Karim Alrawi, author of the novel Book of Sands. Thursday, September 10 at 6:30pm. Admission by donation. Surrey Libraries (City Centre), 10350 University Dr., Surrey. More information at 604-598-7420.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features Russell Thornton & Elena Johnson + Open Mic. Thursday, September 10th, 7–9:30pm, at The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. Sign up for open mic at 7 pm. Suggested donation at the door: $5. Twisted Poets runs the 2nd Wednesday and the 4th Thursday of the month. More information at www.pandorascollective.com.

W. JAMES DICKINSON
Local author will read from his book Raptor Night. Friday, September 11 at 4:00pm, free. Salt Spring Island Public Library, Salt Spring Island. More information at saltspring.bc.libraries.coop.

DEAD POETS READING SERIES
Five poets/poetry-lovers/readers/writers bring to life the works of their favourite deceased poets. Each reader will give a brief presentation on the life and work of their chosen poet, followed by a poetry reading. Sunday, September 13 at 3:00pm. Central Branch, VPL, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at deadpoetslive.com.

LET'S READ-EFINE YA LIT
What happens when our stories don't represent us? How can we make YA literature more inclusive of our identities? Discuss these questions and more at this free workshop presented as part of Check Your Head's Open House series. Mon. September 14, 6-8pm at #605-207 W. Hastings. Email aleks@checkyourhead.org to reserve a seat.

THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE RCMP
Historian and former RCMP officer, Bonnie Reilly Schmidt, launches her new book, Silenced: The Untold Story of the Fight for Equality in the RCMP. Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse on Main Street, 4118 Main ST. More information andrea@caitlin-press.com.

SPOKEN INK READING SERIES
Features poets Bren Simmers and Raoul Fernandes. Tuesday, September 15 at 8:00pm. La Fontana Caffe, 101-3701 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. More information at harbourpublishing.com.

NOVEL NIGHTS
Raziel Reid discusses his novel When Everything Feels Like The Movies. Wednesday, September 16 at 7:00pm. Book Warehouse, 4118 Main Street. More information at 604-879-7737.

W.P. KINSELLA
Author launches his new book, The Essential W.P. Kinsella. Wednesday, September 16 at 7:00pm. Chilliwack Library.

Upcoming

THE BOOK OF NEGROES: FROM PAGE TO SCREEN WITH LAWRENCE HILL
Join acclaimed author Lawrence Hill in an evening of conversation with CBC's Margaret Gallagher on the highs and lows of transforming his best-selling novel into a major television series, and other rich revelations. Thursday September 17 at 7:00 pm. Goldcorps Centre for the Arts, 149 W. Hastings St. More information at hapapalooza.com.

KOOTENAY BOOKWEEKEND
The Kootenay Bookweekend will be hosting passionate page-tuners reading and discussing The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King, Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt, Local Customs by Audrey Thomas and our guest author, Arno Kopecky's book The Oil Man and the Sea. September 18-20, 2015 in Nelson, BC. Registration forms and information at kootenaybookweekend.ca.

EUROPEAN BOOK CLUB
Presents My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. Moderated by Dr. Elisa Segnini. Saturday, September 19 at 3:00pm, free but register at eubookclub.vancouver@gmail.com. Kitsilano Branch, VPL. More information at alliancefrancaise.ca.

THE BEST LAID PLANS: A MUSICAL
The world premiere of a musical based Terry Fallis' award-winning first novel. Presented by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions. September 19-October 3, 2015. The York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive. For tickets, visit tickets.thecultch.com.

COMPLETELY MIXED UP
A display of creativity exploring what it means to be of mixed Asian-North American Heritage. Monday, September 21 at 7:00pm. Central Branch, VPL, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

POETRY READING
Kate Braid and Liz Ross welcome the arrival of fall with poems that celebrate transitions, the beauty of small moments and craft. Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30pm. Firehall branch, 1455 10th Ave. W. More information at 604-665-3970.

WORD VANCOUVER
Featuring books and authors with free exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities for a wide range of ages and interests. September 23-27, 2015. Various locations. For complete details, visit wordvancouver.ca.

BEN HATKE
Kidsbooks presents the creator of the popular Zita the Spacegirl graphic novels presents his new book Little Robot. Monday, September 28. For times and locations and to purchase tickets, visit kidsbooks.ca.

AUTHORS UNBOUND UNINTERRUPTED
An evening of entertainment and inspiration provided by six local People of the Page: Mauro Azzano, Margo Bates, Kempton Dexter, Pattry Emry, Ron Kearse and Lillja Valis. Monday, September 28 at 7:00pm. Central Branch, VPL, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.

THREE'S A THRILL
Panel featuring Mauro Azzano, author of the Ian McBriar Murder Mystery Series, Robin Spano, author of the Clare Vengel Undercover Series and Sam Weibe, author of The Last of the Independants. Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00p. Welsh Hall, West Vancouver Memorial Library. More information at 604-925-7403.

AUTHOR FEST
Meet Fraser Valley writers and learn first-hand about their work, the experience of writing, publishing, and marketing. Saturday, October 3 at 1:00pm. Clearbrook Library.